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Dating
system of
Islam.
A date is
necessary to
record the
events of
our daily
life. In
today's
world it is
not possible
to plan
anything in
advance
without a
date. For
this purpose
it is
essential to
have a
dating
system,
which is
predictable
and free of
error.
The Qur'aan
argues that
the Shariah
of Islam is
a guide for
the people
until the
end of this
world. We
are now at
the
threshold of
the 21st
century. A
perfect
Shariah
should be
useful to
those who
live in this
century as
well as to
those who
will come in
future.
Let us
examine what
the Qur'aan
says about
the dates in
the Islamic
Shariah.
“They ask
you about
the phases
of the Moon.
Say, they
are dates
for the
people and
the
pilgrimage."
(2:189). The
Qur'aan
informs us
in clear
terms that
by closely
observing
the Moon it
should be
possible to
determine
the dates
from the
changes that
take place
in the
phases of
the Moon
every day
due to its
waxing and
waning.
Though the
number of
days in a
month, which
equals the
Moon's cycle
in relation
to the Sun,
is not
specified,
the Qur'aan
teaches its
principles
so that the
thinking
people can
understand
how to
calculate it
by careful
observation
and study of
the Moon.
The Qur'aan
says that
the number
of months in
a year is
twelve.
We have the
day
comprising
of five
prayers
namely Fajre,
Zuhar, Asar,
Magrib and
Isha and the
week of
seven days,
fixed by the
Jumu'a
prayer on
the sixth
day at the
time of
Zuhar prayer
once in
seven Days.
These days
have names
and they are
inviolable.
The days are
marked by
dates shown
by the Moon
every day.
Day and date
are related
to each
other. So,
both must
change
simultaneously.
Everywhere
on the
Earth, the
duration of
a day is 24
hours.
Though the
beginning
and end of a
day is
different
everywhere,
the day is
same. Time
differs
according to
the distance
in east-west
direction.
Just as the
distance
from one
place to the
other does
not change,
the
difference
of time
between them
also does
not change.
For example,
the
difference
of time
between
Saudi Arabia
and India is
about two
and a half
hours. In
India the
day begins
two and a
half hours
earlier than
Saudi Arabia
and ends two
and a half
hours
earlier.
Where this
difference
becomes 24
hours, two
days are
experienced.
That is to
say, when
some people
say the
Jumu'a
prayer, some
people say
the Zuhar
prayer at
that place.
Thus they
experience
two Fridays
there! The
Islamic
Shariah
would not
allow this
without a
barrier
between the
two groups
and this
barrier
should have
the minimum
distance in
which the
canonical
prayers
could be
lessened.
The Mathla’
al Fajre or
the place of
Daybreak on
earth
Muslim
Jurists of
the past
have
ordained
that two
Fridays or
two days of
Eid or two
opposite
directions
for the
Kiblah (the
direction
faced during
the Muslim
prayer)
shall not be
allowed in
one town.
Such places
shall be
separated by
a sea, where
the people
cannot
inhabit and
the distance
between them
should be
such that
the Shariah
could allow
people to
lessen (qasar)
the
canonical
prayers.
The Muslims
are ordered
to face the
Ka'aba
during their
prayers
wherever
they are on
the Earth.
Since the
Earth is a
globe there
should be a
place on it,
where the
people must
necessarily
turn towards
the opposite
directions
in order to
face the
Ka'aba. This
place cannot
be in a
habitable
land. The
Jurists have
said that a
traveler
should
accept the
Kiblah,
Jumu'a, Eid
and Ramadan
of a people.
Thus a line
separating
such lands
becomes
necessary in
the Shariah.
Whenever a
Friday comes
the first
Jumu'a
prayer on
earth has to
be said. It
is necessary
to know the
place where
to begin.
The Hilal
appears at
the
beginning of
every month.
The day on
which it
appears must
be
determined
to begin a
month. Since
the Hilal
could appear
at any part
of the day
the
beginning
and end of
the
world-Day
should be
defined. The
Day on which
the Hilal
appears is
the last Day
of the month
and the next
day would be
the first
day of the
next month
of the
Islamic
calendar
according to
the
instructions
of the
Qur'aan and
the
explanations
given by the
Prophet
(SAW). So a
line marking
the boundary
for this
purpose is
imperative
in the
Shariah. In
the Islamic
parlor this
boundary
line on
earth is
called the
Mathla'h' al
Fajre or the
'Mathla'h
asshams',
the place of
Day break.
The Fuqaha
(Jurists)
have talked
about this
Mathla'h'
(Date Line),
but later on
the people
have
mistaken it
for
different
horizons of
daybreak at
different
places on
the Earth!
Such
Mathalia'
(horizons)
have nothing
to do with
defining the
Day or Date
as the Sun
goes on
rising
everywhere
continuously.
The Jurists
have stated
that such
differences
need not be
considered
in the case
of fixing
the Hilal
for fixing
the
beginning of
the months,
the fasting
of Ramadan
or the Eid
Day. |
